Electrical isolation of vehicle body carriers

Abstract

A technique for electrically isolating a vehicle body carrier from a vehicle body during an electrode position coating process, and a vehicle body carrier that has been so electrically isolated. Points of potential charge transfer to the vehicle body carrier are preferably isolated. Electric current is routed to a vehicle body on the carrier by means of a conductor cable that preferably runs through the hollow interior of at least one vehicle carrier support member to a conductive vehicle body support component, thereby electrically charging the vehicle body. The retention component and other conductive points of contact between the vehicle body and the vehicle body carrier are isolated to prevent charge transfer. In this manner, the vehicle body carrier will not attract e-coat during the electrode position process and, therefore, will not experience a buildup of e-coat material.

1. An electrically isolated vehicle body carrier, comprising:
 a carrier framework for supporting a vehicle body, said carrier framework connected to a conveyor; 
 a conductor member associated with said carrier framework, said conductor member in electrical communication with a source of electric current associated with a portion of said conveyor; 
 a conductor cable connected between said conductor member and a conductive point of contact with a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework; and 
 isolator elements separating said carrier framework from conductive points of contact between said carrier framework and said vehicle body; 
 whereby, said vehicle body is electrically charged by said electric current without electrically charging said vehicle body carrier. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier framework is suspended from an overhead conveyor. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 2 , wherein said carrier framework includes at least one substantially hollow primary support member that extends substantially from a point of connection with said overhead conveyor to a point of support beneath a carried vehicle body. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 3 , wherein said conductor cable is routed through said substantially hollow primary support member. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vehicle support/retention elements associated with said carrier framework for supporting and retaining a vehicle body on said carrier framework from a location beneath said vehicle body. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 5 , wherein said conductor cable is connected to a support/retention element in conductive contact with a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 6 , wherein said support/retention element to which said conductor cable is connected is a pin that enters an aperture in a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 5 , wherein said support/retention elements are affixed to said carrier framework by threaded fasteners. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 8 , wherein said threaded fasteners are electrically isolated from said carrier framework. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 1 , wherein exposed portions of said conductor cable are encased in an electrically isolating cover. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said isolator elements are constructed of an ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic. 
     
     
       12. An electrically isolated vehicle body carrier for transporting a vehicle body through an electrodeposition coating bath, comprising:
 a carrier framework for supporting and retaining a vehicle body, said carrier framework suspended from an overhead conveyor; 
 a conductor member associated with said carrier framework, said conductor member in electrical communication with a source of electric current associated with a portion of said conveyor; 
 a conductor cable connected to said conductor member and routed along said carrier framework to a conductive point of contact with a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework; and 
 isolator elements separating said carrier framework from conductive points of contact between said carrier framework and said vehicle body; 
 whereby, said vehicle body is electrically charged by said electric current without electrically charging said vehicle body carrier. 
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 12 , wherein said carrier framework includes at least one substantially hollow primary support member that extends substantially from a point of connection with said overhead conveyor to a point of support beneath a carried vehicle body. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 13 , wherein said conductor cable is routed through said substantially hollow primary support member. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of vehicle support/retention elements associated with said carrier framework for supporting and retaining a vehicle body on said carrier framework from a location beneath said vehicle body. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 15 , wherein said conductor cable is connected to a support/retention element in conductive contact with a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 16 , wherein said support/retention element to which said conductor cable is connected is a pin that enters an aperture in a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 12 , wherein exposed portions of said conductor cable are encased in an electrically isolating cover. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 12 , wherein said isolator elements are constructed of an ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic. 
     
     
       20. An electrically isolated vehicle body carrier for transporting a vehicle body through an electrodeposition coating bath with said vehicle body in an electrically charged state, comprising:
 a carrier framework for supporting and retaining a vehicle body, said carrier framework suspended from an overhead conveyor and having at least one substantially hollow primary support member that extends substantially from a point of connection with said overhead conveyor to a point of support beneath a carried vehicle body; 
 a plurality of vehicle support/retention elements associated with said carrier framework for supporting and retaining a vehicle body on said carrier framework from a location beneath said vehicle body; 
 a conductor member associated with an upper portion of said carrier framework, said conductor member in temporary electrical communication with a source of electric current associated with a portion of said overhead conveyor; 
 a conductor cable connected to said conductor member and routed through said substantially hollow primary support member to a support/retention element in conductive contact with a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework; and 
 isolator elements located between said carrier framework and all conductive points of contact between said carrier framework and said vehicle body; 
 whereby, said vehicle body is electrically charged by said electric current without electrically charging said vehicle body carrier. 
 
     
     
       21. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 20 , wherein said support/retention element to which said conductor cable is connected is a pin that enters an aperture in a vehicle body carried on said carrier framework. 
     
     
       22. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 20 , wherein portions of said conductor cable residing outside of said substantially hollow primary support member are encased in an electrically isolating cover. 
     
     
       23. The vehicle body carrier of  claim 20 , wherein said isolator elements are constructed of an ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic.